Supriya Joshi is an intersectional feminist from Mumbai. She is interested in understanding the role of gender, caste, class and religion on allocation of economic resources. Apart from this , she loves to read, write and watch crime documentaries.
*To specify: By women I mean people who were assigned as females at birth and hence, went through the gender norms and societal expectations of a girl/woman. Cis women are not the only individuals who experience pregnancy and birth but for the purpose of the article, the social norms faced by females at birth becomes important.
Texas’s recent ban on abortions as early as six weeks is a current influx of the laws that monitor women’s right to their own bodies. Poland saw a wave of protests spurred by the government’s decision to ban abortions, even in extreme cases. The recent anti-abortion atmosphere has raised more significant questions on women’s autonomy over their own bodies. In all cultures, women’s bodies and behaviours have been policed through social norms and, at times, through laws. Feminism over the ages has evolved and changed with its various strands and waves, yet it remained firm on the belief that women have a right to choose how they live their life. This central premise completely contradicts the anti-abortion laws put forth by countries. This begs to ask an important question: Can you be a feminist and pro-life too?
Pro-life are those who are staunchly against abortion, no matter what the circumstances are. They believe that every human life is essential and that abortions are murder. They equate a foetus to being a human. The life of the fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus holds more importance than the circumstances of the pregnant person or their choice. Some might care about having a welfare system in place to support the person and the child. But the prevalent ideologies don’t talk about the unjust systems that make the pregnant person consider abortion even if they don’t want to. In recent literature, the pro-life ideology is rightfully called an anti-abortion one.
The four major waves of feminism have fought to dismantle the structural inequalities in society. They have fought hard to provide equal opportunities irrespective of the multiple identities of the person. Moving from white feminism, today, feminists emphasize intersectionality and inclusion. Amongst all this, the question of abortions becomes an important one. Ultimately women are the ones who suffer through labour and aftercare. It is their bodies that go through the trauma and the process of childbirth. Even though childbirth has gotten safer, it is still fatal. Additionally, at times women don’t even have a say on whether they want to have a child or not.
According to me, pro-life and being a feminist are two contradictory ideologies. Feminism is built on the tenant of choice. The pro-life stance snatches away the right to choose that feminism gives to women. Pro-life ideology takes away women’s right to decide about their own bodies and snatches away their personhood. It reinforces the patriarchal idea of a woman’s worth based on her fertility. The societal expectations associated with what being a woman means ultimately lead to the idea that motherhood is essential for womanhood. The gendered understanding of childbirth reduces women and alienates them from themselves. Within this framework, pregnancy and childhood are always expected to be happy events. This strips women of their right to validate and legitimize their emotions if they feel otherwise.
The religious and moral connotations of abortions pose another hurdle in legalizing abortions. Major religions all across the globe have a common doctrine of controlling women’s bodies and their sexuality. Additionally, the idea that the child or pregnancy is a gift of god harms women and their right to make their own reproductive choices. In the pro-life doctrine, abortion is seen as unethical and immoral since abortions are equated to killing an actual, fully functional and living human being.
Abortions will happen no matter what; what you do is take away women’s right to safe abortions. Banning abortions altogether is classist, racist and sexist as women from marginalized groups are denied access to safe abortion. On the other hand, irrespective of the law, women from privileged backgrounds will always have a back door to abortion. In a time when people are getting more conscious about white feminism or, closer to home, savarna feminism, there is a need to look at access to abortion from an intersectional viewpoint. Especially in an age where the third wave is characterized by intersectionality and the fourth wave by trans inclusion, you definitely cannot be pro-life and a feminist.
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